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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #253260
Title: Predicting mosquito behavior in the presence of repellents, insecticides, and attractants

Author
item Cohnstaedt, Lee
item Bernier, Ulrich
item Allan, Sandra - Sandy

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/24/2010
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: Personal protective measures, such as repellents and insecticides, are designed to prevent arthropods from landing, feeding, and transmitting disease to humans. Some of these chemicals block mosquito odor binding receptors and others are contact irritants. Although chemical products are effective and frequently used, their affects beyond reducing biting rates is rarely studied. The behavior of Culex quinquefasciatus was filmed in a special bioassay box designed to restrict movement to a single plane around the attractant. Mosquito movements were tracked through time to analyze behavior in the presence of an untreated-, DEET (N,N-Diethyl-3-methylbenzamide)- or permethrin-treated sleeve on a human arm. Changes in number of mosquitoes in flight and the proximity of mosquitoes to the blood meal will be discussed. Additionally the spatial repellency of the two chemicals and the potential role of behavioral analysis in evaluation of future chemical repellents will be evaluated.